Explore Japan's folklore, myths, history, ghost stories, and more. Fairy tales are for all ages, not just for children. Fairy tales teach virtues and show us there's hidden depths behind what we see. Foxes turn into women. Old couples can adopt and raise divine beings. Well-used tools can develop souls. Folktales share wisdom in entertaining ways. They still matter. Fairy tales teach us to look beyond the empirical to see the meaning, the everyday adventure, that fills our world.
Myths come from the higher class; folklore comes from the lower classes. This distinction is softer than it appears. Myths and folktales complement and contrast each other. Foxes can be servants of the gods and tricksters in the fields at the same time. Myths teach Truth through fantastic stories. No matter the type, stories matter. They shape how we see and understand the world.